Merry-go-round



Nov. 23 1926.

1,608,442 c. TARDETE MERRY-G0-R0UND Filed Oct. 5, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 1Nov. 23 1926.

1,608,442 C. TARDETE MERRY-Go-ROUND Filed Oct. 5, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 5lwenar y Carlo 75de?? Nov. 23 g 1926. 1,608,442

' c. TARDE-re:

MERRY-GO -ROUND Filed oct. 5, 1923 5 sheets-sheet S lllllillll InveuforCarlo 'Bradee Patented Nov. 23, 1926.

CARLO TARDETE, OF JAMESTOWN, NEW YRK.

MERRYrGO-ROUND This inventionrelates to an improvement in a.merry-go-round, and more particularly t-o one provided with twoplatforms, both of which are rotated and one of which is raised andlowered relatively to the other.

The chief object of this invention is to provide a merry-go-round havingtwo platforms which are rotated simultaneously, the upper platform beingraised or lowered while rotating so that the `passengers thereon areelevated and have an opportunity to lool; out over the ocean or country,while enjoying the ride on the merry-go-round.

A further `object of this invention is to provide in this merry-go-rounda closed chamber in which one platform rotates, the chamber being walledwith mirrors which are preferably of the kind reflecting grotesqu'eimages, and which are oscilla-ted on horizontal axes as the platform isrotated.

Other Objects` will appear from the examination of the followingspecification taken in connection with the drawings which form a part.thereof, and in which- Fig. l is a. front elevation of one embodiment ofthis invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l, the parts being in a differentposition;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan View taken along the lines 3-3 of Figs. l and2;

Fig. 4is a sectional plan View taken along the line 4 4 of Figs. l and2;

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view looking from below and showing a portion ofthe operatingmeohanism; y

. Fig. 6 is a front elevation partly in section of one portion of themerry-go-round;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section showing the upper plat-form in its lowerposition and indicating the relation of the platforms, .the seats beingomitted from'the lower `pla`tform; y Y y Fig. 8 is an enlarged sideelevationof the lower platform showing the manner in which the seats aresupported and caused to rise and fall; y

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view showing the manner in which the mirrors inthe lower compartment are caused to oscillate; and

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the detail shown in Fig. 9.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral is used to indicategenerally the embodiment of merry-garonnd set forth in thisspecification. The merry-go-round comprises a base 2l from which risestandards Application tiled October 5, 1923. Serial No. 655,746.

22 which meet at the top in a center block Mounted in the block 23 andin a standard 24 on the base 2l is a vertical shaft 25, the upperportion 26 of which is externally threaded for a purpose to be describedlater. The shaft is rigidly mounted in theblock 23 and support 24 andheld against rotation. Upon the base 2l is mounted a circular wall 27having an opening 23 at the front and enclosing the lower end of theshaft 25. A plurality of radiating cross pieces 29 extend from thesupport 24 to the inner face of the wall 27. Suitably mounted incarriages on the cross pieces 29 are rollers 30 so located, as shownparticularly in Fig. 5, that they form a circle. y

Resting upon the rollers 30 and freely rotatable around the shaft 25 isa platform 3l which is circular in shape and which is equally spacedfrom the walls 27. Carried by standards is acanopy, or cover, 33,arranged at a suitable distance above the platform 31. rfhis canopy 33has a central opening around the shaft 25 and is caused to move with theplatform 31 by the `stand- Aards 32. The platform 3l is rotated in anydesired manner, but for the purpose of illustration, however, there isshown in the drawing a ring gear 34 mounted upon the under side of theplatform 3l land engaged by a pinion 35 on the shaft 36. The shaft 3G isrotated by a motor 37 or other suitable means by which the shaft`36 maybe driven in either direction. y

Suitably carried by the platform 31 are a plurality of uprights 4l, theupper ends of which terminate in a plate 42 which surrounds the shaft 25and is freely movable therearound. In the present embodiment four ofthese uprights 41 are provided, arranged at an equal distance from eachother and from the shaft 25. A .platform 43 is threadedly mounted uponthe portion 2G of the shaft 2`5,`an internally threaded block 44 beingrigidly mounted at the center of the platform 43. A canopy 45 isarranged above the platform 43 on the supports 46 and is carried uponan` internally threaded sleeve 47 held in proper position by means ofbraces 48. At the top vof the sleeve 47 is provided a platform 49, theouter edges of which are supported by braces 50. Suitable guards 51 areprovided on each of the platforms 31 and 43. The uprights 4l extendthrough the platforms 43, `49 and the canopy 45, so that any rotation ofthe platform 3l lOl istransmitted to the upper platforms and canopy,vand since these are in threaded engagement with the threaded portion ofthe shaft 25, it is obvious that, when rotated, they will rise or loweraccording to the direction of rotation. The block 44 may be steppedasshown to provide seats 52 for the passengers on the platform 43.

The compartment 53 formed by the wall 27V is closed at the top by aplate 54 suitably carried by the uprights 41 and supportsV uponthe'canopy 33, and freely movable on the shaft 25. 'Upon the inner wallof the compartment 53 are mounted mirrors 55 which extend completelyaround the wall of the compartment and are preferably of the type whichreliect grotesque images.V In order to heighten this effect the mirrors55 are pivotally mounted .on brackets 56, as is shown particularly inFigs. 9 and 10. EX- tending from the upper edge of the mirrors 55 arearms 57 having at their outer. end rollers 58 which engage with anirregular cam surface 59 of the canopy A suitable spring 60 at thebottom of each mirror 55 keeps the roller 58 all times in contact withthe surface 59 of the canopy. e

The passengers on the lower platform 31 are provided with seats 61,which are suitably mounted on rods 62. The rods 62 extend through theplatform 31 and the canopy 33V and carry at their lower ends rollers 63which engage with an irregular surface cam 64. Thus as the platform 31is rotated, the'seats 61 are caused to rise and fall.v

Entrance to the platform 31 is permitted by means of steps 65 which risefrom the front of the base 21. The wall 51 of the compartment 31 isinterrupted at 66 to provide an entrance to the platform, which'entrancewill be closed by a gate, or any suitable means when the merry-go-roundis in operation. Supported by suitable posts 67 is a balcony 68 which isreached by 4means of the staircases 69 and 70 at either side of thesteps 65. Rising from the balcony 68 are steps 71 by which admission tothe plat Y form 43 is possible through an opening 75 in the wall 51. Arail 72 surrounds the Vplatform 43 when'lowered, and any suitable meansmay be provided for closing the top of the steps 71.

The balcony68, as shown particularly in Y Fig. 4, provides a promenade74 completely form 43 may be raised, the rail 72 removed and the surfaceused as a roof garden o dance floor.

The operation of themerry-go-round is, l believe, obvious from theforegoing ydescriptiOn.V Briefly, however, it may be stated that peoplefirst enter upon the base 21,

and then either ascend the steps 65 to the Y Amitted to the platforms 31and 43, the openings 66 Vand 7 5 will be closed and the platforms set inrotation. The rotation of this platform causes Vthe seats 61, which areoccupied by the passengers to be raised and lowered, and at the sametime causes the mirrors withinV the compartment 53 to be tilted back andfortlrLSince the platform 43 Vis inthreaded engagement with the shaft25, it is obvious that it will be raised until it reaches the highestpoint las in Fig. 2, and then the direction of rotation will be reversedand the platform lowered to the position shown in Fig. 1.

While one embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, lam not to be limited thereto since it is obvious that others may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

Having thus set forth my invention what claim as new and for whichldesire protection by Letters Patent is:

1. A merrygo-round comprising two rotatable platforms, each adapted toreceive passengers, a shaft rigidly mounted and eX- tending through thecenter of said platforms, a stationary balconyV above one of saidplatforms, steps to said balcony whereby passengers can enter saidsecond platform, means for rotating both said platforms simultaneouslyand connections between said shaft and said second platform whereby saidsecond platform is raised or lowered with respect to said balcony whensaid means are set in motion.

2. A merry-go-round comprisingtwo rotatable platforms, each adapted toreceive passengers, a shaft rigidly mounted and eX- tending through thecenter of said platforms, a portion of which shaft is externallythreaded, a stationary compartment enclosing one of said platforms, abalcony on said compartment whereby passengers can enter said secondplatform, means for rotating both said platforms simultaneously andconnections between the ythreaded portion of said shaft and said secondplatform whereby said second platform is raised or lowered with respectto said balcony when said means are set in motion.

3. In a merry-go-round, a rotatable platform, a compartment within whichsaid platform rotates, mirrors pivoted upon the inner side walls vofsaid compartment and means actuated b y the rotation of said platform tocause said mirrors to swing upon their pivots.

4l. In a merrygoround, a rotatable platform, a compartment within whichsaid platform rotates, mirrors horizontally pivoted upon the inner sidewalls of said compartment and means actuated by the rotation of saidplatform to cause said mirrors to swing upon their pivots.

5. In a merry-goround, a rotatable platform, a compartment within whichsaid platform rotates, mirrors pivoted upon the'inner side walls of saidcompartment and means carried by said mirrors and actuated by therotation of said'platform to cause said mirrors to swing upon theirpivots.

6. In a merry-go-round, a rotatable platform, a compartment within whichsaid platform rotates, a canopy for said platform carried thereby androtatable therewith, mirrors pivoted upon the innerside walls o sai-dcompartment and means carried by said mirror and actuated by said canopyduring its rotation to cause said mirrors to swing upon their pivots.

7. In a merry-go-round, a rotatable platform, a compartment within whichsaid platform rotates, a canopy `for said platform carried thereby androtatable therewith, the outer edge of .said canopy being cam-like,

mirrors pivoted upon the inner side walls of said compartment and meanscarried by said mirror and actuated by the cam-like edge of said canopyduring its rotation to cause said mirrors to swing upon their pivots.

8. A merry-go-round comprising a base, standards carried by said base,an annular balcony mounted upon said standards above said base, stepsfrom said base to said bal cony, a shaft mounted in said base andsupported by said standards, a compartment on said base enclosing thelower end of said shaft, a platform in said compartment adapted torotate free of said shaft, a second plat form in threaded engagementwith said shaft above said balcony and means for rotating saidplatforms.

9. A merry-goround comprising a base, standards carried by said base, anannular balcony mounted upon said standards above said base, steps fromsaid base to said balcony, a shaft mounted in said base and supported bysaid standards, a compartment on said base enclosing the lower end ofsaid shaft, a platform in said compartment adapted to rotate free ofsaid shaft, means on said base by which said platform is reached, asecond platform in threaded engagement with said shaft above saidbalcony, means on said balcony by which said second platform is reachedand means for rotating said platforms.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

CARLO TARDETE.

